As summer wears on, you may notice your hair getting drier and drier. You may also experience an increase in those undesirable split ends. What can you do about it?
Here’s a Top 10 list of suggestions, courtesy of Jenna Forrester, a veteran hairdresser. Working in hot, dry central California, Jenna gives the following advice to her clients often.
10. Moisturize. Soft, supple hair is a lot less likely to split and break than dry, brittle hair. Products that contain natural ingredients such as olive oil, avocado oil and almond oil are popular and effective.
9. Protect hair from the elements. Sun, heat and wind can suck the moisture right out of your locks. Keep a supply of hats and scarves at hand and grab one when you leave the house. You can also station a couple of choices in your car.
8. Take care when swimming. It goes without saying that you should rinse your hair after a swim, whether you’re enjoying a pool, a lake or the ocean. But you may also want to help your hair defend against chemicals, salt and other substances by using a leave-in conditioner or oil before you swim.
7. Limit styling. Summer is the perfect time to wear your hair up, pulled back with a headband or swept back into a ponytail. The more often you leave styling equipment in the drawer, the less damage you’ll inflict on your hair.
6. Choose tools wisely. Selecting ponytail holders? Be sure to choose some that won’t catch and break your hair. Soft scrunchies are usually the most gentle. Selecting a comb? Consider your hair’s texture. If you have very thick, coarse hair, implements with wide teeth will cause less pulling and tugging.
5. Wash hair carefully. Most of us automatically pile our hair on top of our heads and scrub away. If your hair is not extremely oily, consider washing just the part nearest the scalp and letting the suds and water flow down over the older hair below.
4. Dry hair carefully. Towel your hair gently after washing. Use the lowest heat setting on your hairdryer, keep it a good distance from your hair and try a diffuser to limit close contact. And unless your hair tends to frizz, it is probably not necessary to use the dryer until your locks are bone-dry.
3. Relearn combing and brushing habits. Jenna says that one of the most important things you can do for your hair is brush from the ends up instead of the other way around. This is especially important when de-tangling your locks.
2. Eat a well-balanced diet. Getting the recommended amounts of vitamins, minerals and protein each day is as critical for the well being of your hair as it is for the rest of your body.
1. Trim hair regularly. The number one thing to do with split ends is to trim them away. Like it or not, there is no way to “repair” them, no matter what product promises you’ve heard. Cutting split ends not only gives your hair a more polished look, it prevents split ends from traveling up the hair shaft and damaging it to the root.
Learning to give your hair extra TLC will pay off all year, not just in summer. And it will also make a difference down the road. Hair ages right along with the rest of you, becoming drier as oil-producing glands slow down, Jenna explains. Adjust your hair care habits now for lovely, healthy locks well into the future.